James A. Schiavone
Weather impact research
James A. Schiavone worked for 40 years at Bell Labs and AT&T Labs and published research in a broad array of journals, in research areas that included atomic and molecular spectroscopy, atmospheric photochemistry modeling, atmospheric microwave propagation, scientific visualization of meteorological data and telecommunications systems engineering. Since retirement from corporate research in 2013, Jim has been working full time as an independent scientist and collaborating with Rutgers University, Cray Inc., Princeton University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Since then he has been investigating the structural evolution of Hurricane Sandy during landfall on New Jersey, the mesoscale character of Sandy’s surface winds, and the role that roll vortices play in driving those surface winds.
hurricane sandy
Hurricane Sandy's warm core...
Hurricane Sandy carried its warm, moist core onto the New Jersey coastline. Sandy is shown here at 3 hours before landfall, modeled with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and visualized by NCAR’s VAPOR software. Colors are cues to elevation where violet is about 12,000 feet above ground.
...and cold shoulder
But while making landfall, Sandy’s moist core was being strangled (secluded) by cold, dry air. This juxtaposition of cold and warm air initially contributed to Sandy’s strong winds, but later to its demise after landfall.